Colossal Comic Annual #[1]

([August 1956])

The Man Who Was Honest! (Table of Contents: 1)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Ira Yarbrough ?

Inks

Win Mortimer ?

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Perry White; Dr. Carl Sand (criminologist); Henry Royce (head of welfare league); John Carver (alderman candidate); Mrs. Bixby; Lloyd Marwick (president, Scientific Truth Society); Sam Nichols (photographer); Mike Chesney (mobster); Pinky (criminal); Nix (criminal)

Synopsis

After a famous criminologist states that no person is completely honest, Lois is assigned a story to find an honest man, with an assist from Superman.

Reprints

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #114 (November 1947)

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Action Comics” banner removed from every page of story. pp3: wording “thousand-dollar bill” changed to “hundred-pound note”, and pp4 “$1,000” changed to “£100”. pp4: wording “candidate for alderman from the third ward” changed to “candidate for alderman”.

Dick Grayson's Nightmare! (Table of Contents: 2)

Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Dick Sprang

Inks

Charles Paris

Letters

Gaspar Saladino

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (original editor)

Characters

Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Doc (villain); Blinky (villain); Moose (villain, introduction)

Reprints

• from Batman (DC, 1940 series) #80 (December 1953-January 1954)

Indexer Notes

Actually a Robin story with Batman making only a token appearance.DC logos and “Batman” banner removed from every page of story. pp10 of original story artwork extended and altered to make it into 10 pages instead on 9.67. pp2: wording “Chicago” changed to “down south”. pp3 and pp4: wording “dollars” changed to “pounds”.

Silver Gloves Sellout! (Table of Contents: 3)

Superboy / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Al Wenzel

Inks

Al Wenzel

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (actual original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superboy; Kayo Burke; Tom Burke

Synopsis

Superboy battles gangsters trying to fix a title fight between school kids.

Reprints

• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #134 (November 1948)

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Adventure Comics” banner removed from every page of story. Screentone textures and shades added to all pages. pp5: wording “hoods” changed to “toughs”. pp6: wording “due to make half a million clams” changed to “due to make a fortune”.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 4)

Atomical Tom The Boy Inventor / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Jim Borella Swan

Pencils

Jim Borella Swan (signed)

Inks

Jim Borella Swan (signed)

Letters

Jim Borella Swan ?

Editing

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

It's the very latest in cameras, dad ---- takes pictures automatically, develops the neg an' enlarges too!!

Reprints

• Reprint from Superman Color Comics (K. G. Murray Publishing Company, 1947 Series) #2 (July 1947)

The Amazing Animal Bandits! (Table of Contents: 5)

Hopalong Cassidy / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Don C. Cameron

Pencils

Gene Colan

Inks

Joe Giella; Sy Barry

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Julius Schwartz (actual original editor)

Genre

western-frontier

Characters

Hopalong Cassidy; Bill Drake, Milo Riggs; Hardpan Hank; Natt Scott

Reprints

• from Hopalong Cassidy (DC, 1954 series) #87 (March 1954)

Keywords

bear; bobcat; eagle; porcupine; prairie dog; timber wolf

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Hopalong Cassidy” banner removed from every page of story. pp 4: word “unlimber” changed to “loosen”. pp8 of original story artwork extended and altered to make it into 8 pages instead on 7.67 pages.

Superboy Meets Mighty Boy! (Table of Contents: 6)

Superboy / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Woolfolk

Pencils

Al Wenzel

Inks

Al Wenzel

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (actual original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superboy [Clark Kent]; Mighty Boy (introduction); Jay V. Atkins

Synopsis

A young boy is duped by an unscrupulous promoter into thinking he's stronger than Superboy.

Reprints

• from Superboy (DC, 1949 series) #1 (March-April 1949)

Keywords

Metropolis

Indexer Notes

Takes place in Metropolis. DC logos and “Superboy” banner removed from every page of story. Screentone textures and shades added to all pages. pp2: wording “$50” changed to “£5”.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 7)

Quick Quiz / activity / 0.75 page (report information)

Script

Horace Elmo

Pencils

Horace Elmo

Inks

Horace Elmo

Letters

Horace Elmo

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Mort Weisinger (actual original editor)

First Line of Dialogue or Text

What difference is there between a frog and a toad? Why were pre-historic periods called the Stone Age… Bronze Age… Iron Age? Are there any snow-covered mountains on the equator? How much air does the average individual breath in one day?

Genre

non-fiction

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #84 (September-October 1953)

Indexer Notes

Artwork spaced out with additional borders to fill .75 page.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 8)

Quick Quiz / activity / 0.25 page (report information)

Script

Horace Elmo

Pencils

Horace Elmo

Inks

Horace Elmo

Letters

Horace Elmo

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (original editor)

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Is a zebra white or black? Where is the world’s largest clock?

Reprints

• from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #196 (June 1953)

Indexer Notes

Only two of four panels reprinted.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 9)

Quick Quiz / activity / 1 ? page (report information)

Script

Martin Naydel (only "About a Boat" panel); Horace Elmo

Pencils

Martin Naydel (only "About a Boat" panel); Horace Elmo

Inks

Martin Naydel (only "About a Boat" panel); Horace Elmo

Letters

?

Editing

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

About a “Boat”. What is another proof that the world is round? Is there a difference between a thief and a robber? Did the “Irish” potato originate in Ireland? Is the horn of a Rhinoceros made of bone?

Genre

non-fiction

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #68 (January-February 1951) [only "About a Boat" panel reprinted.]
• from Star Spangled Comics (DC, 1941 series) #118 (July 1951) [Only three of four panels reprinted (excludes "Whales" panel)]
• from Superboy (DC, 1949 series) #17 (November-December 1951) [Only single panel reprinted - "Is there a difference between a thief and a robber?"]

Indexer Notes

This page made up of five panels from three different comics containing "Quick Quiz" and "Fun an' Fact" features.

The Five Different Batmen! (Table of Contents: 10)

Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Bob Kane (Batman & Robin figures); Lew Sayre Schwartz

Inks

Charles Paris

Letters

Ira Schnapp

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (original managing editor); Mort Weisinger (story editor); George Kashdan (story editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Batman; Robin; Commissioner Gordon; Vicki Vale (blonde hair); Guy Banning; “Soupy” Sellers; Charlie Williams; The Blaster; “Spots” Derrow

Synopsis

Five people tell their memories of Batman, who appears to be dead.

Reprints

• from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #65 (July-August 1953)

Keywords

Explosives

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “World's Finest Comics” banner removed from every page of story. pp7: word “dollars” changed to “pounds”.

That Old Class of Superboy's! (Table of Contents: 11)

Superman / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script

Jerry Siegel

Pencils

John Sikela

Inks

George Roussos ?

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (uncredited assistant editor); Mort Weisinger (uncredited assistant editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent; also as Superboy] (as Superboy in flashback); Lester "Pudge" Smythe (introduction); Stanley "Flip" King (introduction); Benjamin "Dizzy" Dowling (introduction); Peggy "Red" Watson (introduction); Lois Lane

Synopsis

Clark Kent does a story researching how his school classmates lived up to their ambitions. But as he did as Superboy when they were younger, Superman must step in to help them when needed.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #46 (May-June 1947)

Indexer Notes

First mention of Superboy in Superman.DC logos and “Superman” banner removed from every page of story.

Exiled from the Sea! (Table of Contents: 12)

Aquaman / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Otto Binder

Pencils

John Daly

Inks

John Daly

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (actual original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Aquaman; Blackjack

Synopsis

After being accidentally bathed in chemicals Aquaman emits an odor that enrages fish, so he must stay out of the sea for 30 days.

Reprints

• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #134 (November 1948)

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Adventure Comics” banner removed from every page of story. Screentone textures and shades added to all pages.

Superboy -- Super-Salesman! (Table of Contents: 13)

Superboy / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Finger

Pencils

Al Wenzel

Inks

George Roussos ?

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (actual original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superboy; Herbert Binns; Hugo Crowl

Reprints

• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #130 (July 1948)

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Adventure Comics” banner removed from every page of story. Screentone textures and shades added to all pages.Word “dollars” changed to “pounds” throughout story. pp5: words “copper pennies” changed to “pennies”, and “ten dollars” changed to “ten shillings”. pp6: words “pine tree pennies” changed to “ancient pennies”. pp6 and pp7: word “dollar” changed to “shilling”. pp8 and pp10: words “a million dollars” changed to “a thousand pounds”. pp10: words “a dollar bill for a nickel” changed to “a pound note for a penny”.

His Lordship, Clark Kent! (Table of Contents: 14)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

John Sikela

Inks

John Sikela

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (original managing editor); Mort Weisinger (story editor); George Kashdan (story editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Perry White; Julian Fyffe (villain); Mr. Mayhew; Lord Edgestream; Lady Althea; Eddie Pike [Bertram Keith-Innes Fyffe]; unnamed king; unnamed queen

Synopsis

An English lord sends a representative to the United States to notify Clark that he is the long lost heir to an English fortune.

Reprints

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #106 (March 1947)

Keywords

London

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Action Comics” banner removed from every page of story. pp8 deleted from original story. pp3: Wording “$20,000,000” changed to £5,000,000”. pp7: wording “America taught me that a change for the better” changed to “A change for the better”. pp7: last panel Lois and Clark’s word balloons deleted and caption changed from: “Meanwhile... Lois and Clark stroll through the Famous London fog.” to “Unperturbed by the sensation he has caused, Clark leaves London with Lois.” pp8 (original pp9): wording changed from “Meanwhile, Julian Fyffe has not” changed to “Julian Fyffe has not”. pp10 (original pp11) wording “all I did was give it to some miners to raise” changed to “ “all I did was give it to some miners to rise”.

Rocket Plane (Table of Contents: 15)

Superboy's Workshop / activity / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Al Wenzel

Inks

Al Wenzel

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (actual original editor)

Genre

superhero

Reprints

• from Superboy (DC, 1949 series) #1 (March-April 1949)

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Superboy” banner removed. Screentone textures and shades added.

The Original Batman (Table of Contents: 16)

Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder / comic story / 11.33 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Dick Sprang

Inks

Charles Paris

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Batman; Robin; Hugo Marmon; Commissioner Gordon; John Vulney; Lefty Lane

Reprints

• from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #195 (May 1953)

Keywords

Acrobat; circus

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Detective Comics” banner removed from every page of story. pp6: “$” symbol changed to “£” symbol on money bags; words “street cars” changed to “trams”. pp11: Both pp11 (all) and pp12 (except panels 5-6) of original story combined into a single page by rearranging and altering panels to fit. Last two panels of original pp12 placed on new .33 page with a ‘Varsity Vic” gag strip beneath them.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 17)

Varsity Vic / comic story / 0.67 page (report information)

Script

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils

Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Inks

Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Letters

Henry Boltinoff

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (original editor)

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The book's not here!

Genre

humour; teen

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #106 (July 1956)

Superboy's Report Card (Table of Contents: 18)

Superboy / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Al Wenzel

Inks

George Roussos ?

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (actual original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superboy; Perkins the Truant Officer; Miss Davis

Synopsis

Since the truant officer wants Superboy to go to school, he has to pass through all the grades in one day, in order not to jeopardize his secret identity.

Reprints

• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #133 (October 1948)

Keywords

Icarus; Truant officer

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Adventure Comics” banner removed from every page of story. Screentone textures and shades added to all pages. pp5: word “jails” changed to “gaols”. pp10: sentence “The most important product of Pennsylvania is steel!” changed to “The most important product of Newcastle is steel!” Superboy warns readers not to jump off roofs while wearing capes or fake wings because they can't really fly.

Razor Blade Radio (Table of Contents: 19)

Superboy's Workshop / activity / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (credited original editor); Jack Schiff (uncredited original editor); Mort Weisinger (uncredited original editor)

Genre

superhero

Reprints

• from Superboy (DC, 1949 series) #6 (January-February 1950)

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Superboy” banner removed. Screentone textures and shades added.

Susie Reforms! (Table of Contents: 20)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Don C. Cameron

Pencils

Ira Yarbrough

Inks

Stan Kaye ?

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth; Jack Schiff (uncredited original editor); Mort Weisinger (uncredited original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Perry White; Susie Tompkins; Tambu (villain, introduction); Kadir (villain, introduction); Crawley (villain, introduction)

Synopsis

Lois makes Susie promise to stop making up wild stories, so when Susie witnesses elephants from the zoo flying away, no one believes her!

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #47 (July-August 1947)

Keywords

dirigible; elephants; zoo

Indexer Notes

DC logos and “Superman” banner removed from every page of story. pp12: wording “the richest crook in America” changed to “the richest man in the world”; plus “and the jail” changed to “and the A” - presumably word “jail” was to be changed to “gaol” but artist forgot to make final change.